Classic Poem

P HOEBUS , sair cow'd wi' simmer's hight
Cours near the yird wi' blinking light;
Cauld shaw the haughs, nae mair bedight
Wi' simmer's claes,
They heeze the heart o' dowy wight
That thro' them gaes.

Weel loes me o' you, business, now;
For ye'll weet mony a drouthy mou'
That's lang a eisning gane for you,
Withouten fill
O' dribbles frae the gude brown cow,
Or Highland gill.

The Court o' Session, well wat I,
Pits ilk chield's whittle i' the pye,
Can criesh the slaw-gaun wheels whan dry
Till Session's done,
Tho' they'll gie mony a cheep and cry
Or twalt o' June.

Ye benders a', that dwall in joot,
You'll tak your liquor clean cap out,
Synd your mouse-webs wi' reaming stout,
While ye hae cash,
And gar your cares a' tak the rout,
An' thumb ne'er fash.

Rob Gibb's grey gizz, new frizzl'd fine,
Will white as ony snaw-ba' shine;
Weel does he loe the lawen coin
Whan dossied down,
For whisky gills or dribs o' wine
In cauld forenoon.

Bar-keepers now, at outer-dore,
Tak tent as fock gang back and fore;
The fient ane there but pays his score,
Nane wins toll-free,
Tho' ye've a cause the house before,
Or agent be.

Gin ony here wi' canker knocks,
And has na lous'd his siller pocks,
Ye need na think to fleetch or cox;
" Come shaw's your gear;
" Ae scabbit yew spills twenty flocks,
" Ye's nae be here. "

Now at the door they'll raise a plea;
Crack on, my lads! — for flyting's free;
For gin you should tongue-taket be,
The mair's the pity,
Whan scalding but and ben we see
Pendente lite .

The Lawyers' skelfs, and Printers' presses
Grain unco sair wi' weighty cases;
The clark in toil his pleasure places,
To thrive bedeen;
At five-hour's bell scribes shaw their faces,
And rake their ein.

The country fock to lawyers crook
" Ah! weels me on your bonny buik!
" The benmost part o' my kist nook
" I'll ripe for thee,
" And willing ware my hindmost rook
" For my decree. "

But law's a draw-well unco deep,
Withouten rim fock out to keep;
A donnart cheel, whan drunk, may dreep
Fu' sleely in,
But finds the gate baith stay an' steep,
Ere out he win.